OTAKI COTTAGE HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3507, 6 July 1926, Page 2

OTAKI COTTAGE HOSPITAL.

PALMERSTON BOROUGH COUNCIL SUPPORTS FOXTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The policy of the Palmerston Hospital Board's administration at Otaki was considered at last night’s meeting of the Palmerston Borough Council, when a letter was received from the Foxton Chamber of Commerce, forwarding the following resolution for the council’s consideration: “That emphatic protest be entered against any attempts to make the Otaki Cottage Hospital a charge on (he Palmerston hospital district, but the chamber endorses (lie policy of one base hospital and the appointment of trained nurses where required.” Councillor M. A. Eliott expressed the opinion that the council should agree with the resolution. He recalled that Dr. MacEachern, in the ■course of his tour of New Zealand had stressed that a large base hospital was more to be desired than a number of small cottage institutions.

Councillor J. Hudgens said he would agree with the motion had the Palmerston Hospital an adequate fleet of ambulances. So long as the cottage hospital continued to function in Otaki 'sufferers there would have a means to speedy relief in emergencies, which would not be available under the system of working proposed by the Hospital Board.

In reply, Councillor Eliott insisted that although Councillor Hodgens had spoken of the good service afforded by cottage hospitals, Dr. MacEachern had said that that was just what they could not provide.

The Mayor (Mr. F. J. Nathan) said that he felt that if centralisation was to take place in regard to liispital treatment an.adequate ambulance service should be provided. It was decided to support the resolution of the Foxton Chamber of Commerce, with this addition.